Chukwubuike Onuoha

2019

Umuahia, Abia State

On Monday 3rd June 2019, 21-year old Chukwubuike Onuoha stood in front of his father’s house with relatives to enjoy the cool evening breeze, after a long day. Soon after, a police hilux van drove by, flashing its headlights at them. Chukwubuike asked the driver to dim the lights. Rather than do that, the driver, Sergeant Collins Akpugo of the Special Protection Unit (SPU), alighted from the vehicle and shot him. The policeman would also fire a second shot at him before running away, leaving his vehicle behind.

Angered by the incident, youths from the village set the police hilux van ablaze, before taking to the streets to protest the killing. Okiroro Stephen, who witnessed the incident, said the policeman was drunk when he carried out the act. “He was merely told by the youth to dim his full light. Instead, he wasted the life of Chukwubuike and ran away.”

Chukwubuike was confirmed dead at the Federal Medical Centre Umuahia, the next morning. Although the police declared him wanted and promised to bring him to book, Sergeant Akpugo was never arrested or prosecuted.

Killer Officer: Sergeant Collins Akpugo